What up with the automatic on the GT?

All the shifts are just boring/lack luster. It seems like the trans must pause for a second or so every time it shifts. You're at WOT and this automatic shifts like an old Buick or something.

I guess I'm just used to my 67 442 with a 455/Turbo 400. When 400 shifts it's split-second, neck snapping, tire burning shifts. But the shifts in the GT are just - - - ugh!

Yes, I've tried 'Sport' mode and 'Manual' mode with the same mediocre results.

So is there a fix for this?

A tune, I hear.

Is yours a GT or Sedan?

I drove a GT yesterday...one of the 888 things. I didn't have enough time to play around with it, but I was doing about 30 at a cruise and then mashed the throttle. It downshifted once...sort of...right away, then thought about it for what seemed like quite a long time until it dropped into 1st (I think it was first) and then went like a bat out of hell. Good stuff! Now, what I didn't have a chance to check was to see if the shifting crispness, max rpm, etc is any different when you put the shifter over to the right in the manumatic mode..but without actually using the sport shifter. In other words, does it activate a different shift map or not.

Otherwise...wow! The car is fantastic. Exceeds all my expectations.

Don't be too worried about it.. Its defiantely something that can be cleaned up with tuning. Mine is occasionally barking second now.. The only big problem with them is being that the TCM is located in side the transmission.. You can still flash it under the dash.

A tune, I hear.

Is yours a GT or Sedan?
It's a GT.

Don't be too worried about it.. Its defiantely something that can be cleaned up with tuning. Mine is occasionally barking second now.. The only big problem with them is being that the TCM is located in side the transmission.. You can still flash it under the dash.
I'm an old motor head from the 60's and all this ECM/Flashing the trans stuff is VERY foreign to me.

Who/what/how is this 'Tune'/'Flash' thing done?

I drove a GT yesterday...one of the 888 things. I didn't have enough time to play around with it, but I was doing about 30 at a cruise and then mashed the throttle. It downshifted once...sort of...right away, then thought about it for what seemed like quite a long time until it dropped into 1st (I think it was first) and then went like a bat out of hell. Good stuff! Now, what I didn't have a chance to check was to see if the shifting crispness, max rpm, etc is any different when you put the shifter over to the right in the manumatic mode..but without actually using the sport shifter. In other words, does it activate a different shift map or not.

Otherwise...wow! The car is fantastic. Exceeds all my expectations.
So far what I have found is the normal mode (wife mode) shifts smoothly and softly.
Manual mode is fun if you want it to feel like a stick, but the shifts are not quick until it's driven awhile/ tuned. If you want to flat GO! Use Sport mode. This gives you Much higher rev points before crisp shifts. Look around before you launch in this mode since the car will scream thru 1st and 2nd so fast you will be shocked to see you are doing 70 MPH+. The cop that pulled me over was VERY impressed!:eek2:

... The cop that pulled me over was VERY impressed!:eek2:

HAH!
I'll bet...
- Ray
24,000 miles in a RED Corvette - without a ticket...
[ knowck wood ]

I totally agree with Penguin. If you want to mess with your friends and snap their neck, go to manual mode to hold it in first or second. If you just want better response with the shifts, leave it in Sport Mode and let the computer shift for you. If you're out with the p's or with customers/co-workers, leave it in D and have a nice cruise.

yeah,what drob8 said.shifts are a bit slow compared to my old TH350 in my 78 TA,but with 6 gears you have alot to play with!!

I hate to disagree with the general consensus here, but as a "pure" stick driver, I think you guys need to begin to think ahead when driving. That A6 is built to survive, not hammer shifts on a 5mph to WOT pedal stomp. Keep an eye on your rear view mirror and pull a gear or two down if someone comes up behind that may create a "situation." If you get surprised and passed by someone while waiting on an automatic to downshift, you just aren't paying attention to your driving. You don't want 385 lbs/ft of torque slamming those drivetrain components, and neither does Pontiac warranty. An old rule of driving a stick shift is to downshift before you need to, not after it's too late.

If you get surprised and passed by someone while waiting on an automatic to downshift, you just aren't paying attention to your driving. You don't want 385 lbs/ft of torque slamming those drivetrain components, and neither does Pontiac warranty. An old rule of driving a stick shift is to downshift before you need to, not after it's too late.
I wasn't referring to forced downshifts, I was referring to how lousy the upshifts are under hard acceleration. Hell, I can't even get the GT to bark the tires!

My understanding with automatics is the quicker the shift, the better, the less clutch slipping there is, less heat is generated making a longer lasting transmission. I don't see how a 'let me think about it' shift from the TCM is good for the transmission.

The Turbo 400 on my 67 442 has no hesitation when upshifting or downshifting. It's been slamming shifts like this since 1967 and now has 172,000 miles on it. The only mod I've ever done to the turbo 400 was a B&M shift plate back in 1972 (cost about 30 bucks) and that shift plate was the mild one.

The 455 in my 442 is rated at 425 lbs of torque and I manually force downshifts at WOT all the time producing hard, quick shifts that will break the tires loose just about everytime. Nothing has exploded yet in all these years.

I would hope a transmission with over 41 years of technical improvements could handle only 385 lbs of torque. If it can't than there is something really wrong with this picture.

Rufas,
The 6 sp. tranny is shifting exactly how Pontiac wants it to...its all part of the electronic control ./ fly by wire system so to speak...this is easily solved ....electronically of course...these days you dont have to put a shift kit in an auto.....check out the post by vector motorsports...they do the ECM and TCM programming....unless u live by there shop u have to be patient until they have a dowload able kit...since this tranny has a seperate brain to program..i can tell you though..this car will scream and bang shifts .with the correct tune.. Vector sports is claiming 30 to 40 hp , 3 mpg better and you can have the sport in sport shifts...all done electronically.. im calling them tommorow..im not the expert...they are.im doing up my car...heres the link
http://www.vectormotorsports.com/
just to compare your G8 is faster than you think...1968 Hurst/Olds 13.77@103.91 455 W-30 390 automatic 3.91 SS 8/68
the G8s have been clocked at 13.6 at 104mph stock...the smoothness and technology of the traction control give you the feeling your not moving as fast as you are.....none of the old muscle cars can keep on charging past 110 mph either....ive owned more than a few myself....the G8 stock with the governor removed will probally hit 160 mph stock with the gears it has....currently govered to 136 mph but thats like at only 3000 rpm or something
..just my 2 cents

check out the post by vector motorsports...they do the ECM and TCM programming....unless u live by there shop u have to be patient until they have a dowload able kit...since this tranny has a seperate brain to program..i can tell you though..this car will scream and bang shifts .with the correct tune.. Vector sports is claiming 30 to 40 hp , 3 mpg better and you can have the sport in sport shifts...all done electronically.. im calling them tommorow..im not the expert...they are.im doing up my car...heres the link
http://www.vectormotorsports.com/

1968 Hurst/Olds 13.77@103.91 455 W-30 390 automatic 3.91 SS 8/68 the G8s have been clocked at 13.6 at 104mph stock...none of the old muscle cars can keep on charging past 110 mph either....
That the type of information I'm looking for.

I agree on the old muscle car, my 442 runs very strong, but once it get to about 115 it's ran out of rpms. The rear ratio is 3.31 and my rpms peak out at about 5300. Typical for a mostly stock valve train on an Olds 455. Especially one that was rebuild back in 1976. This thing has turned into a garage queen for the last few years.

HAH!
I'll bet...
- Ray
24,000 miles in a RED Corvette - without a ticket...
[ knowck wood ]

Red vette and no ticket? Some sort of record...on topic, I test drove a Gt and was impressed with the quick shift in normal auto..did not hammer it as I was not going to buy this one...